Double stacked rocket food dishes



p 20, 1966 TOHCHUNG WEI DOUBLE STACKED ROCKET FOOD DISHES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 5, 1963 INVENTOR.

TOHCHUNG WEI United States Patent M 3,273,739 DOUBLE STACKED ROQKET FOOD DISHES Tohcliung Wei, 169 E. Broadway, New York, N.Y. Filed Aug. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 299,799 13 Claims. (Cl. 220-4) This invention relates to the art of food containers and more particularly concerns containers having means for stacking and sealing a plurality of cylindrical containers.

According to the invention there is provided a cylindrical container having a closed bottom and open top. At the top and bottom of the container are annular, spaced, concentric flanges. The flanges of one container can interfit in sealing relationship with the flanges of another container to form an axially aligned stack of containers. A cover having annular, spaced, concentric flanges is provided to close and seal the open top of a container.

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a cylindrical container having an open top with concentric flanges at the top to receive interfitting concentric flanges of a sealing cover for the container.

Another object is to provide a stack of cylindrical containers in which each container has an open top and closed bottom, with each container having concentric annular flanges at the top and bottom so that each container interfits in sealing relationship with an adjacent container in the stack.

A further object is to provide a stack of containers as described with a cover having concentric flanges interfitting with the flanges at the open top of the uppermost container in the stack.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a container stack according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a container and cover.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to a part of FIG. 2, showing another container and cover construction.

Refering to FIGS. l-3, there is shown a stack of cylindrical cans or containers 12 each made of sheet metal. Each container 12 has a cylindrical wall 14 and transverse, closed circular bottom wall 16. The top of each container 12 is open. At the bottom of each container extending axially below bottom wall 16 is a pair of concentric flanges 18, 20 defining an annular space 22 therebetween. Flange 20 may be integral with wall 14 and may be an extension of this wall below bottom Wall 16.

A pair of axially aligned bayonet pins 24 extend outwardly of flange 20 at diametrically opposed positions of the flange. These pins are located just below the horizontal plane of bottom wall 16.

At the top of each container are three concentric annular or cylindrical flanges 25, 26, 27 axially aligned with the axis of cylindrical wall 14 and annular or cylindrical flanges 18, 20. Between flanges 25, 26 is defined an annular space 28 axially aligned with flange 18. Between flanges 26, 27 is defined an annular space 30 axially aligned with flange 29 and wall 14. A pair of L-shaped bayonet slots 32 are formed in flange 27. The slots are located at diametrically opposed positions in the flange. The slots extend axially downward from the top free Patented Sept. 20, 1966 edge 29 of flange 27 and then circumferentially at 33 from the bottom ends of slots 32. The slot portions 33 are disposed in a horizontal plane parallel to edge 29. Slots 32 receive pins 24 and detachably secure the several cans or containers together in axial alignment.

When the cans or containers are secured together by the bayonet joints 24, 32 the bottom flanges 18, 20 of each upper can or container fit into the spaces 28, 30 defined between upper flanges 2527 of the next lower can or container, as clearly shown in FIG. 2.

Radial inner annular wall 36 and radial outer annular wall 38 joins the flanges 2527 to the upper end of wall 14 of each container. The bottom ends of flanges 18, 20 rest on the upper sides of walls 36, 38. The flanges 2527 of each container may be extended so that they make contact with the underside of bottom wall 16 of the next higher container in the stack.

It will be apparent that the interior of each container may thus be sealed or closed off from the exterior of each container at not less than two annular sealing surfaces S1, S2 at the bottom end of each container resting on a lower container. Two additional sealing surf-aces S3, S4 can be provided at the upper ends of each pair of flanges 25, 26 extending upwardly against the underside of bottom wall 16 of the next higher container.

A suitable heating device 40 can be provided in the circular chamber 42 defined by annular wall 18 of the lowermost container 12 as shown in FIG. 2 for keeping the contents of all containers in a heated condition.

A cover 50 is provided for the open top of container 12. This cover has a flat circular top wall 52 with two depending concentric cylindrical flanges 18, 20'.

Between flanges 18', 23" is defined an annular space 22 which receives intermediate flange 26 of the uppermost container 12" of the stack 10* or of any other container 12, such as shown in FIG. 3. Bayonet slots 32 of the uppermost container 12" receive bayonet pins 24 for removably securing the cover to the container.

On the circular top 52 of cover 50 is centrally located a round hollow knob 56 provided with outwardly extending eyes 58 for engaging bent ends 60 of a looped handle 62. The handle can be used to carry the entire stack of interfitted or nested attached containers or to carry a single container provided with cover 50. Cover 50 closes and seals the container 12 or 12" along four annular sealing surfaces 81-84.

In FIG. 4 is shown a modification of the invention in which container 12 of stack 10 has flange 27 displaced radially outward of the cylindrical wall 14 of the container, and supported by outer annular radial wall 38'. Inner annular radial wall 36' of the container has three concentric annular flanges 70 70 and 70 defining two annular spaces 72 72 therebetween.

Cover 56 has a cylindrical outer flange 20" provided with pins 24" for engaging in bayonet slots 32' in flange 27. Depending from the flat top 52' of the cover are two cylindrical, concentric flanges 74 74 which .are with pins 24" for engaging in bayonet slots 32' in flange 70 70 and 70 70, respectively. Two annular sealing surfaces S1, S2 are provided at the bottom ends of flanges 74 74 where they rest on the upper side of wall 36'. Three additional sealing surfaces S3, S4, S5 may be provided at the upper edges of flanges 70 70 where these flanges may abut the underside of the cover top 52. The container 12 fits on top of container 12 in the same manner as illustrated for container 12" in FIG. 2. Other parts of stack 10 including cover 50 which are similar to stack 10 and cover 50 are identically numbered.

It will be noted that both covers 50 and 5! effect sealing of the open tops of the containers along four or five concentric sealing surfaces. Also each container in a stack seals the open top of the next lower container along 3 two to four annular, concentric surfaces. This structure insures that the containers are hermetically sealed so that outside air cannot enter and vapors, heat and juices cannot escape from the containers when they are closed. The stack containers provide a convenient, easily transported and stored assembly.

The several covers and containers are preferably made of sheet metal which can be produced by mass production, low cost methods on known types of can-making machinery. The several flanges of the containers and covers can be welded to their supports or otherwise integrally formed therewith.

The covers and containers can be made of stainless steel, copper, brass or other suitable metals. If desired, they can be made wholly or partly of plastic or other sheet materials.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1s:

1. A sealed stacked container assembly, comprising a plurality of cylindrical containers disposed in an axially aligned stacked array, each of said containers having a cylindrical wall with a closed circular bottom wall and open top, a first two cylindrical, radially spaced, concentric, cylindrical flanges depending from said bottom wall, three radially spaced concentric other flanges disposed at the open top of each container, and a radial annular wall supporting and securing said other flanges to the cylindrical wall of the container, all of said flanges being axially aligned with each other and with the axis of said cylindrical wall, the first two flanges of each upper container in said array interfitting in and between the three spaced other flanges at the top of the next lower container in said array to define four annular sealing surfaces between said flanges, the bottom wall of the upper container and the radial, annular wall of the lower container.

2. A sealed stack container assembly, comprising a plurality of cylindrical containers disposed in an axially aligned stacked array, each of said containers having a cylindrical wall with a closed circular bottom wall and open top, a first two cylindrical, radially spaced, concentric, cylindrical flanges depending from said bottom wall, three radially spaced concentric other flanges disposed at the open top of each container, a radial annular wall supporting and securing said other flanges to the cylindrical wall of the container, all of said flanges being axially aligned with each other and with the axis of said cylindrical wall, the first two flanges of each upper container in said array interfitting in and between the three spaced other flanges at the top of the next lower container in said array to define four annular sealing surfaces between said flanges, the bottom wall of the upper container and the radial, annular wall of the lower container, and bayonet joint means on adjacent flanges of stacked containers detachably securing the stacked containers together.

3. A sealed stack container assembly, comprising a plurality of cylindrical containers disposed in an axially aligned stacked array, each of said containers having a cylindrical wall with a closed circular bottom wall and open top, a first two cylindrical, radially spaced, concentric, cylindrical flanges depending from said bottom wall, three radially spaced concentric other flanges disposed at the open top of each container, a radial annular wall supporting and securing said other flanges to the cylindrical wall of the container, all of said flanges being axially aligned with each other and with the axis of said cylindrical wall, the first t-wo flanges of each upper container in said array interfitting in and between the three spaced other flanges at the top of the next lower container in said array to define four annular sealing surfaces between said flanges, the bottom wall of the upper container and the radial, annular wall of the lower container, and quick detachable joining means securing the stacked containers together.

4. A sealed stacked container assembly, comprising a plurality of cylindrical containers disposed in an axially "aligned stacked array,-each of said containers having a cylindrical wall with a closed circular bottom wall and open top, a first two cylindrical, radially spaced, concentric, cylindrical flanges depending from said bottom wall, three radially spaced concentric other flanges disposed at the open top of each container, a radial annular wall supporting and securing said other flanges to the cylindrical wall of the container, all of said flanges being axially aligned with each other and with the axis of said cylindrical wall, the first two flanges of each upper container in said array interfitting in and between the three spaced other flanges at the top of the next lower container in said array to define four annular sealing surfaces between said flanges, the bottom wall of the upper container and the radial, annular wall of the lower container, and a cover on the open top of the uppermost one of the con tainers in said array, said cover comprising a circular top wall, and two concentric, radially spaced annular flanges depending from said top wall and fitting between said three other radially spaced concentric flanges of the uppermost one of the containers to define four other annular sealing surfaces between said top, wall and the radial wall of the uppermost one of the containers.

5. A sealed stacked container assembly, comprising a plurality of cylindrical containers disposed in an axially aligned stacked array, each of said containers having a cylindrical wall with a closed circular bottom wall and open top, a first two cylindrical, radially spaced, concentric, cylindrical flanges depending from said bottom wall, three radially spaced concentric other flanges disposed at the open top of each container, a radial annular wall supporting and securing said other flanges to the cylindrical Wall of the container, all of said flanges being axially aligned with each other and with the axis of said cylindrical wall, the first two flanges of each upper container in said array interfitting in and between the three spaced other flanges at the top of the next lower container in said array to define four annular sealing surfaces between said flanges, the bottom wall of the upper container and the radial, annular wall of the lower container, a cover on the open top of the uppermost one of the containers in said array, said cover comprising a circular top wall, and two concentric, radially spaced annular flanges depending from said top wall and fitting between said three other radially spaced concentric flanges of the uppermost one of the containers to define four other annular sealing surfaces between said top wall and the radial wall of the uppermost one of the containers, quick detachable joining means securing the stacked containers together and securing the cover to the uppermost one of the containers, and handle means on the top wall for supporting the stacked array while being transported.

6. A sealed stacked container assembly, comprising a plurality of cylindrical containers disposed in an axially aligned stacked array, each of said containers having a cylindrical wall with a closed circular bottom wall and open top, a first two cylindrical, radially spaced, concentric, cylindrical flanges depending from said bottom wall, three radially spaced concentric other flanges disposed at the open top of each container, a radial annular wall supporting and securing said other flanges to the cylindrical wall of the container, all of said flanges being axially aligned with each other and with the axis of said cylindrical wall, the first two flanges of each upper container in said array interfitting in and between the three spaced other flanges at the top of the next lower container in said array to define four annular sealing surfaces between said flanges, the bottom wall of the upper container and the radial, annular wall of the lower container, and a cover on the open top of the uppermost one of the containers in said array, said cover comprising a circular top wall, two concentric radially spaced annular flanges depending from said top wall and fitting between said three radially spaced concentric other flanges of the uppermost one of said containers to define four other sealing surfaces between said top wall and the radial wall of the uppermost one of the containers, and a further cylindrical flange carried by the top wall of the cover, said further flange defining another sealing surface with said radial wall of the uppermost one of said containers.

7. A sealed stacked container assembly, comprising a plurality of cylindrical containers disposed in an axially aligned stacked array, each of said containers having a cylindrical wall -with a closed circular bottom wall and open top, a first two cylindrical, radially spaced, concentric, cylindrical flanges depending from said bottom wall, three radially spaced concentric other flanges disposed at the open top of each container, a radial annular wall supporting and securing said other flanges to the cylindrical wall of the container, all of said flanges being axially aligned with each other and with the axis of said cylindrical wall, the first two flanges of each upper container in said array interfitting in and between the three spaced other flanges at the top of the next lower container in said array to define four annular sealing surfaces between said flanges, the bottom wall of the upper container and the radial, annular wall of the lower container, and a cover on the open top of the uppermost one of the containers in said array, said cover comprising a circular top wall, two concentric radially spaced annular flanges depending from said top wall and fitting between said three radially spaced concentric other flanges of the uppermost one of said containers to define four other sealing surfaces between said top wall and the radial wall of the uppermost one of the containers, and a further cylindrical flange carried by the top wall of the cover, said further flange defining another sealing surface with said radial wall of the uppermost one of said containers, quick detachable joining means securing the stacked containers together and securing the cover to the uppermost one of the containers, and handle means on the top wall for supporting the stacked array while being transported.

8. A sealed stacked container assembly comprising a plurality of cylindrical containers disposed in an axially aligned stacked array, each of said containers having a cylindrical wall with a closed circular bottom wall and open top, a first two cylindrical, radially spaced, concentric, cylindrical flanges depending from said bottom wall, three radially spaced concentric other flanges disposed at the open top of each container, a radial annular wall supporting and securing said other flanges to the cylindrical wall of the container, all of said flanges being axially aligned with each other and with the axis of said cylindrical wall, the first two flanges of each upper container in said array interfitting in and between the three spaced other flanges at the top of the next lower container in said array to define four annular sealing surfaces between said flanges, the bottom wall of the upper container and the radial, annular wall of the lower container, a cover on the open top of the uppermost one of the containers in said array, said cover comprising a circular top wall, two concentric radially spaced annular flanges depending from said top wall and fitting between said three radially spaced concentric other flanges of the uppermost one of said containers to define four other sealing surfaces between said top wall and the radial wall of the uppermost one of the containers, and a further cylindrical flange carried by the top wall of the cover, said further flange defining another sealing surface with said radial wall of the uppermost one of said containers, another flange carried by said radial wall of the uppermost container disposed adjacent to said further flange of said cover, bayonet joint means securing adjacent flanges of the uppermost container and cover together, and further bayonet joint means securing adjacent flanges of stacked containers in said array together.

9. A sealed container assembly, comprising a container having a cylindrical wall with a closed circular bottom wall, open top, first and second cylindrical, radially spaced concentric flanges depending from said bottom wall and defining a circular chamber for receiving a heater therein, three radially spaced concentric, cylindrical other flanges at the open top of the container, a radial annular wall supporting and securing said three other flanges to the cylindrical wall of said container, and a cover on the open top of said container, said cover comprising a circular top wall and two concentric radially spaced annular flanges depending from said top wall and fitting between said three other flanges to define four annular sealing surfaces between said top wall and said radial wall.

10. A sealed container assembly, comprising a container having a cylindrical wall with a closed circular bottom wall, open top, first and second cylindrical, radially spaced concentric flanges depending from said bottom wall and defining a circular chamber for receiving a heater therein, three radially spaced concentric, cylindrical other flanges at the open top of the container, a radial annular wall supporting and securing said three other flanges to the cylindrical wall of said container, a cover on the open top of said container, said cover comprising a circular top wall and two concentric radially spaced annular flanges depending from said top wall and fitting between said three other fianges to define four annular sealing surfaces between said top wall and said radial wall, quick detachable joint means securing the cover and container together, and handle means on said cover for carrying said assembly.

11. A sealed container assembly, comprising a container having a cylindrical wall with a closed circular bottom wall, open top, first and second cylindrical, radially spaced concentric flanges depending from said bottom wall and defining a circular chamber for receiving a heater therein, three radially spaced concentric, cylindrical other flanges at the open top of the container, a radial annular wall supporting and securing said three other flanges to the cylindrical wall of said container, a cover on the open top of said container, said cover comprising a circular top wall and two concentric radially spaced annular flanges depending from said top wall and fitting between said three other flanges to define four annular sealing surfaces between said top wall and said radial wall, and a further cylindrical flange carried by the top Wall of said cover and defining another sealing surface With said radial wall.

12. A sealed container assembly, comprising a container having a cylindrical wall with a closed circular bottom wall, open top, first and second cylindrical, radially spaced concentric flanges depending from said bottom wall and defining a circular chamber for receiving a heater therein, three radially spaced concentric, cylindrical other flanges at the open top of the container, a radial annular wall supporting and securing said three other flanges to the cylindrical wall of said container, a cover on the open top of said container, said cover comprising a circular top wall and two concentric radially spaced annular flanges depending from said top wall and fitting between said three other flanges to define four annular sealing surfaces between said top wall and said radial wall, a further cylindrical flange carried by the top wall of said cover and defining another sealing surface with said radial wall, an outer cylindrical flange carried by said radial wall, and means detachably securing said outer and further flanges together to hold the cover on the container.

13. A sealed container assembly, comprising a container having a cylindrical wall with a closed circular bottom wall, open top, first and second cylindrical, radially spaced concentric flanges depending from said-bottom wall and defining a circular chamber for receiving a heater therein, three radially spaced concentric, cylindrical other flanges at the open top of the container, a radial annular wall supporting and securing said three other flanges to the cylindrical wall of said container, a cover on the open top of said container, said cover comprising a circular top wall and two concentric radially spaced annular flanges depending from said top Wall and fitting between said three other flanges to define four annular sealing surfaces between said top wall and said radial wall, a further cylindrical flange carried by the top wall of said cover and defining another sealing surface with said radial wall, an outer cylindrical flange carried by said radial wall, means detachably securing said outer and further flanges together to hold the cover on the container,

and handle means on said top wall of the cover for supporting the assembled container and cover during transportation of the same.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,065,633 6/1913 Stone 220-4 1,196,082 8/1916 Carnes 220-42 2,838,044 6/1958 Wel 126-3693 3,010,598 11/1961 Foss 220-4 3,067,896 12/1962 Berg 220-4 XR 3,108,710 10/ 1963 Lan'ge 220-72 XR THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

G. E. LOWRANCE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SEALED STACKED CONTAINER ASSEMBLY, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF CYLINDRICAL CONTAINERS DISPOSED ON AN AXIALLY ALIGNED STACKED ARRAY, EACH OF SAID CONTAINERS HAVING A CYLINDRICAL WALL WITH A CLOSED CIRCULAR BOTTOM WALL AND OPEN TOP, A FIRST TWO CYLINDRICAL, RADIALLY SPACED, CONCENTRIC, CYLINDRICAL FLANGES DEPENDING FROM SAID BOTTOM WALL, THREE RADIALLY SPACED CONCENTRIC OTHER FLANGES DISPOSED AT THE OPEN TOP OF EACH CONTAINER, AND A RADIAL ANNULAR WALL SUPPORTING AND SECURING SAID OTHER FLANGES TO THE CYLINDRICAL WALL OF THE CONTAINER, ALL OF SAID FLANGES BEING AXIALLY ALIGNED WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH THE AXIS OF SAID CYLINDRICAL WALL, THE FIRST TWO FLANGES OF EACH UPPER CONTAINER IN SAID ARRAY INTERFITTING IN AND BETWEEN THE THREE SPACED OTHER FLANGES AT THE TOP OF THE NEXT LOWER CONTAINER IN SAID ARRAY TO DEFINE FOUR ANNULAR SEALING SURFACES BETWEEN SAID FLANGES, THE BOTTOM WALL OF THE UPPER CONTAINER AND THE RADIAL, ANNULAR WALL OF THE LOWER CONTAINER. 